1. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
A Book Report Presentation
By Deana DeWitt

2. Summary
The Giving Tree is a picture book that tells the story of the relationship between a boy and a tree. The story begins when the boy is young and comes to gather the tree’s leaves to make a crown and play “king of the forest.” As the story continues, the boy grows. While he is still young, he climbs the tree, swings from her branches, and plays hide and seek around her trunk. As he becomes a teenager, he doesn’t go to see the tree as often. The tree is lonely and misses the boy. When the boy is too old to play with the tree, she offers him her apples to sell for money. Later, when he wants a house, the tree offers her branches for him to build a home. Each time the man returns, the tree gives of herself so that he will be happy. Finally, she has nothing more to give. When the very old man returns, he doesn’t need anything more from the tree - just a quiet place to sit and rest.

3. Setting
The story takes place where the tree is growing. Many seasons go by - The boy grows from a child to an old man, and the tree loses leaves and produces fruit. There is an impression that the tree may be in the country, because there are no other people around and the tree is lonely when the boy doesn’t come to visit.

4. Characters
The Boy
At first he is young and full of energy. He loves the tree. As he grows, though, he becomes more selfish and greedy. He takes from the tree without giving anything in return. In the end, he is old. He is satisfied to just sit and rest on the stump of the tree.
The Tree
The tree starts out big, strong, and healthy. She loves the boy and is completely selfless, giving him anything he wants so that he will be happy. Even after he takes everything she has, she still loves the man and gives him what he needs.

5. Theme
I think the message that Shel Silverstein wanted to convey through this story is the value of unconditional love, sacrifice, and selflessness. It makes you think about what it means to truly love somebody or something with all your heart. Although the reader gets a real sense of sadness for the tree, having lost everything to please somebody else, the real message is that the tree wanted to give to the boy and pleasing the boy is what made her happy.

6. Recommendation
I would definitely recommend The Giving Tree. It is a classic, touching story. Every time I read it, I think about the kind of person I should be. I think about what it would be like if everybody in the world took joy in giving to others. When the tree was giving to the boy, she was always happy.